Governor sanctions prosecution of former IT minister by Lokayukta

Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj has given sanction to the Lokayukta police to prosecute former Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu in connection with the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board scam.

Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde said here that the Lokayukta police would now file a chargesheet in the court against Naidu, a former Information Technology and Biotechnology Minister. “We have obtained that (Governor’s sanction). It’s the first step towards trial,” said Hegde, a former Supreme Court judge and also member of joint drafting committee on the Lokpal bill. Asked if there is a possibility of the detention of the MLA, he said: “That depends on the requirement of Lokayukta police. Whether they want him for further interrogation. He will have to appear in the court.” Naidu, a senior BJP leader, resigned as Minister from the B S Yeddyurappa cabinet in December last year, after Lokayukta filed an FIR against him and nine others.

The FIR pointed to irregularities in allotment of 385 acres to Itasca Software Company, floated by an aide of Naidu. For allotment of land and obtaining consent of farmers,most of whom were family members and associates of Naidu and his son Jagadish, illegal gratification of Rs 87 crore was allegedly paid to a benami company of Naidu and Jagadish, it said.

Charges such as forgery, cheating, benami transactions, creating false documents, and creating fictitious firms had been made out against the accused in the FIR.